Rebar support chair

ABSTRACT

A chair for supporting one or more bars. The chair can include a base, a lateral cross member and legs to support the lateral cross-member a distance away from the base. The lateral cross member can include one or more receptacles to receive the bar. Each receptacle can have a set of sidewalls defining an opening to a side of the lateral cross member (e.g., the top side). The lateral cross-member can be configured to allow the sidewalls to spread apart laterally so that the opening can widen to receive a bar. The lateral-cross member can be formed of a resilient material so that the opening closes to have a width less than that of the bar when the bar is in a bar retaining area. The lateral cross-member can include multiple bar receptacles to retain parallel bars. The bar receptacles can act as snap-fits.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to the following commonly owned co-pendingU.S. patent application:

Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/309,785, “Rebar Support Chair,”filed Mar. 2, 2010, and claims the benefit of its earlier filing dateunder 35 U.S.C. §119(e).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to reinforcing bars (“rebars”) used inconstruction, and more particularly to providing a support chair forelongated bars used during construction.

BACKGROUND

Concrete is commonly used as a construction material because of itsrelatively low cost. Concrete is very strong in compression, but weak intension. To increase the tensile strength of concrete, steelreinforcement bars (“rebars”) are added. For foundations, road work orother flat constructions, the rebar is often laid out in a grid patternbeneath the surface of the construction. To hold the rebar together in agrid, the bars are tied together where they intersect.

Various codes specify where the rebar must be placed. For example, theAmerican Concrete Institute (ACI) in Section 318 of their code specifiesthat the rebar in a slab-on-grade foundation must be placed at themidpoint depth of the foundation. Thus, for example, in a four inchfoundation slab, the rebar grid would normally be placed at a depth ofapproximately two inches. Consequently, the grid must be elevated offthe ground to the desired position before concrete is poured. In manycases, concrete laborers use stones, pieces of broken bricks ormaterials to elevate the grid. This can cause the grid to be uneven orsag when the concrete is poured.

For concrete pillars and beams, the rebar is tied to a set of woodenframes and placed in a mold. The concrete is then poured into the moldto form the pillar, beam or other construction. However, this methodsuffers many disadvantages. First, it is difficult to align the rebar inparallel around the frames. Second, the frames often break or shift whenthe concrete is poured, causing the rebar to become misaligned. Thisreduces the tensile strength of the construction.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one embodiment of the present invention, a chair for supporting oneor more bars comprises a base, where the base is configured to providestability to support the chair. The chair further comprises legs coupledto the ends of the base. Additionally, the chair comprises a lateralcross member spanning between the legs, where the lateral cross membercomprises one or more receptacles to receive a reinforcing bar, whereeach of the one or more receptacles comprises a set of sidewallsdefining an opening to receive and retain the reinforcing bar. The setof sidewalls spread apart laterally so that the opening can widen toreceive the reinforcing bar, where the opening closes to have a widthless than that of the reinforcing bar when the reinforcing bar is in aretaining area.

The foregoing has outlined rather generally the features and technicaladvantages of one or more embodiments of the present invention in orderthat the detailed description of the present invention that follows maybe better understood. Additional features and advantages of the presentinvention will be described hereinafter which may form the subject ofthe claims of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when thefollowing detailed description is considered in conjunction with thefollowing drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a support chair configured in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention of asupport chair;

FIG. 3 illustrates a set of chair having coupling features in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates that small protrusions can be disposed on the base inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates bars being snapped in the receptacles of the chair inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates chairs supporting two layers of bars in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention of chairssupporting two layers of bars.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments described herein provide a support chair for elongated barsused during construction including, but not limited to, rebar, plumbing,tubing, electrical conduit and other elongated bars. While the followingexamples will be discussed primarily in the context of rebar, it shouldbe understood that embodiments of the present application can be usedfor other purposes.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of one embodiment of the presentinvention of a support chair 100 having a base 102, a lateral crossmember 104 and legs 106 supporting the lateral cross member 104 aselected height from base 102. According to one embodiment, supportchair 100 can be formed of a unitary piece of resilient plastic.According to other embodiments, support chair 100 can be a multi-pieceassembly.

Base 102 can have any desired form factor including that of a ring, asolid plate or other form factor. Base 102 can be sized to providesufficient stability to support chair 100 so that support chair 100 doesnot topple during expected loads experienced during construction.

Lateral cross-member 104 spans between legs 106. Lateral cross-member104 includes bar receptacles 108 open to the top side of lateralcross-member 104 and sized to receive the rebar. Lateral cross-member104 can be formed from a resilient plastic or other material so thatrebar receptacles 108 form a snap-fit. Adjacent openings can beseparated by arms 109.

Legs 106 can have any desired configuration and height and can include asingle leg or additional legs to support lateral cross-member 104.According to one embodiment, a single leg that spans the width of chair100 and is integrated with lateral-cross member 104 can be used. Inother embodiments, other suitable supports and bases can be used tosupport lateral cross-member 104

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, chair 100 can have open areas to allowconcrete to flow between legs 106 and beneath lateral cross-member 104.In other embodiments, chair 100 can be solid without empty space betweenlegs 106 or space between lateral cross-member 104 and base 102.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of another view of chair 100showing bar receptacles 108 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention. Using the center receptacle 108 as an example,receptacle 108 can comprise sidewalls 112 that define areas 114 and 116.According to one embodiment, sidewalls 112 can taper out slightly sothat receptacle 108 becomes generally wider as it approaches the topsurface of member 104. Though, as shown, there can be narrower areassuch as opening 110 and opening 118.

Bar retaining area 114 can be open to the top of lateral cross-member104 (e.g., opening 110) and area 116 (e.g., opening 118). The width ofopening 110 can be less than the width of rod retaining area 114. Theopening 110 can be shaped so that, as a bar enters opening 110, the barpushes sidewalls 112 apart to widen opening 110. When the bar entersarea 114, opening 110 can close to have a width that is less than thatof the bar to retain the bar. The bar can rest on shoulders 115.Receptacle 108 can act as a snap-fit using the spring action of lateralcross-member 104 to close opening 110 and provide feedback to a user.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, bar receptacle 108 can include a secondarea 116 with opening 118. Opening 118 can have a width that is lessthan the width of area 116. Again, as the bar moves into opening 118,sidewalls 112 can move apart. When the bar enters rod retaining area116, the sidewalls can return to their previous position, closingopening 118 to a width that is less than that of the rebar. Again,receptacle 108 can act as a snap-fit using the spring action of lateralcross-member 104 to close and provide feedback to a user.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, area 114 and area 116 can be sized toretain different sizes of rebar. In other embodiments, receptacles 108may only accommodate one size of rebar. In other embodiments,receptacles 108 can include additional areas to accommodate additionalsizes of rebar. The areas to hold different sizes of rebar can bestacked, as shown in FIG. 2, or can be disposed in different receptaclesalong lateral cross-member 104.

According to one embodiment, the outer portion of legs 106, the outerportion of lateral-cross member 104 and sidewalls 112 can be formed froma continuous rib of material 122. Additional material 124 extending fromrib 122 can provide additional structural support. According to oneembodiment, material 124 can be thinner than rib 122 and be shaped toallow flexibility of arms 109. By way of example, but not limitation,material 124 can shaped so that arms 109 have a bow-like shape.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of another embodiment of thepresent invention of a set of chairs 100 having coupling features 130,such as but not limited to, a mortise and tenon joint, a dovetail, aflange and track, clamp, ties or other feature that allow multiplechairs to be securely coupled together in a lateral arrangement. Thiscan allow any number of chairs 100 to be linked together to supportparallel bars.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation illustrating that smallprotrusions, such as feet 133, bumps or other features, can be disposedon base 102 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.If chair 100 is used in creating a ceiling, only the surface area offeet 133 will potentially show through the surface of the concrete.There can be any number, size and pattern of protrusions as needed ordesired.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of one embodiment of the presentinvention of chairs 100 and bars 200. Bars 200 are snapped inreceptacles 108 (see FIG. 2) of chair 100. Chairs 100 both support thebars 200 at a desired height and maintain the lateral separation of bars200.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of one embodiment of the presentinvention of chairs 100 and 100′ supporting two layers of bars 200. Thetwo layers of bars can be at different heights.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of another embodiment of thepresent invention of chairs 100 and 100′ supporting two layers of bars200. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the first layer can be at a firstheight and the second layer can be at a second height. While chairs 100and 100′ are shown as being back-to-back, in other embodiments, chairs100, 100′ can be designed to nest or stack vertically to take up lessspace. In yet another embodiment, the same chair 100 can be used tosupport parallel layers of bars at different heights.

While, in the embodiments discussed above, support chair 100 is alignedto support a horizontal rebar, support chair 100 can also be used in theconstruction of walls and be arranged to support a vertical rebar.Additionally, chair 100 can be used to support other bars including, butnot limited to, plumbing, conduit, tubing or other elongated rod used inconstruction.

Thus, embodiments described herein can comprise a chair for supportingone or more bars. The chair can include a base, a lateral cross memberand a support to support the lateral cross-member a distance away fromthe base. The lateral cross member can include one or more receptaclesto receive the bar. Each receptacle can have a set of sidewalls definingan opening open to a side of the lateral cross member (e.g., the topside). The lateral cross-member can be configured to allow the sidewallsto spread apart laterally so that the opening can widen to receive abar. The lateral-cross member can be formed of a resilient material sothat the opening closes to have a width less than that of the bar whenthe bar is in the bar retaining area. The lateral cross-member caninclude multiple bar receptacles to retain parallel bars. The barreceptacles, according to one embodiment, can act as snap-fits.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,”“including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, areintended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process,product, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is notnecessarily limited to only those elements but may include otherelements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, article, orapparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refersto an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a conditionA or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present)and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B istrue (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

Additionally, any examples or illustrations given herein are not to beregarded in any way as restrictions on, limits to, or expressdefinitions of, any term or terms with which they are utilized. Insteadthese examples or illustrations are to be regarded as being describedwith respect to one particular embodiment and as illustrative only.Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any term orterms with which these examples or illustrations are utilized encompassother embodiments as well as implementations and adaptations thereofwhich may or may not be given therewith or elsewhere in thespecification and all such embodiments are intended to be includedwithin the scope of that term or terms. Language designating suchnon-limiting examples and illustrations includes, but is not limited to:“for example,” “for instance,” “e.g.,” “in one embodiment,” and thelike.

Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects ofthe disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view ofthis description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed asillustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled inthe art the general manner of carrying out the disclosure. It is to beunderstood that the forms of the disclosure shown and described hereinare to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Elements andmaterials may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein,parts and processes may be reversed, and certain features of thedisclosure may be utilized independently, all as would be apparent toone skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description ofthe disclosure. Any dimensions provided are provided by way of exampleonly and not limitation. Changes may be made in the elements describedherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

1. A chair for supporting one or more bars comprising: a base, whereinsaid base is configured to provide stability to support said chair; legscoupled to the ends of said base; a lateral cross member spanningbetween said legs, wherein said lateral cross member comprises one ormore receptacles to receive a reinforcing bar, wherein each of said oneor more receptacles comprises a set of sidewalls defining an opening toreceive and retain said reinforcing bar, wherein said set of sidewallsspread apart laterally so that said opening can widen to receive saidreinforcing bar, wherein said opening closes to have a width less thanthat of said reinforcing bar when said reinforcing bar is in a retainingarea.
 2. The chair as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said one ormore receptacles acts as a snap-fit using a spring action of saidlateral cross member to close said opening and provide feedback to auser.
 3. The chair as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said one ormore receptacles comprises a set of shoulders, wherein said reinforcingbar rests on said set of shoulders.
 4. The chair as recited in claim 1,wherein said set of sidewalls define said retaining area and a secondarea, wherein said opening has a width that is less than a width of saidsecond area.